Bac Ninh transforms heritage into valuable tourism assets
WVR - Bac Ninh currently has 1,589 relics of various types, including 5 special national relics, 206 national relics, and 19 national treasures or groups of treasures.
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| But Thap Pagoda, Thuan Thanh, Bac Ninh is part of the free Bac Ninh tour itinerary. (Photo: Dan Thanh) |
The region is also home to 4 UNESCO-recognized heritages: Quan ho Bac Ninh folk songs, Ca tru, Huu Chap village tug-of-war, and the Mother Goddess of Three Realms worship. Additionally, there are 599 traditional festivals and dozens of unique folk art forms such as Hat Trong Quan, Tuong, Cheo, and water puppetry.
Creating tourism products from heritage
With these values, the province aims to transform heritage into genuine tourism resources. The first step is to create products from the heritage itself. For instance, from national treasures, we are researching the design of souvenirs, art models, and Quan ho cultural symbols to integrate into tour routes.
Or from Quan ho melodies, the province is developing tourism in the original Quan ho villages, with the Bac Ninh Quan ho Folk Song Theater as a highlight.
Since the end of May 2025, the Bac Ninh Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism has decided to adjust and expand 8 new destinations across all 4 tour routes to enrich the experience content.
Bac Ninh's 4 free tour routes operate as short-day tours, complete with transportation, guides, and all-inclusive experiences.
The first tour adds Tieu Son Pagoda, associated with Zen Master Van Hanh, and To Pagoda in Ha Man commune, creating a seamless journey from the Bac Ninh Museum to a series of relics such as But Thap Pagoda, Dau Pagoda, Dong Ho painting village, and the Life Garden ecological area. This route is emblematic of cultural and Buddhist tourism, connecting religious spirit with folk beauty through art and landscape.
The second tour enhances cultural depth by linking Linh Ung Pagoda with the temple and tomb of Si Nhiep, a historical figure who contributed to the dissemination of Chinese characters in Vietnam. This route naturally connects Phu Lang pottery village, Phat Tich Pagoda, and Dien Quang Pagoda, unveiling intertwined cultural and historical layers between religion, traditional crafts, and academia.
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| Visitors enjoy the Quan ho Bac Ninh folk songs during the free tour. (Source: Nhan Dan) |
The third tour includes Bach Mon Pagoda (Viet Doan commune) to leverage Bac Ninh's intangible heritage strengths, especially the Quan ho performance space. This journey harmoniously connects destinations like Tuong Quoc communal house, Thanh Quang temple, Diem village—the cradle of Quan ho folk songs—and Green Farm, a community agricultural tourism model. Here, visitors can experience farming, immerse themselves in rural life, and enjoy Quan ho songs amidst a serene natural setting.
The fourth tour becomes a comprehensive route by introducing 3 new points: Dai Bi Pagoda (Thai Bao commune), Dai Bai bronze casting village (Gia Binh), and Dong Do Village ecological resort (Luong Tai). This journey connects beliefs, craft villages, and ecological services, allowing visitors to experience traditional bronze casting, explore ancient village spaces, and relax at a new-style rural resort.
Becoming a leading cultural and ecological tourism Centre in the Northern Delta
In the long term, Bac Ninh has developed a strategy with 4 main product lines.
First, tourism associated with creative technology. The province is developing products like "Quan ho Tells Stories" using XR (extended reality) technology, and interactive museums where visitors can "talk" with Quan ho singers using artificial intelligence. This approach both preserves and spreads the heritage value in a novel and engaging way.
Second, industrial and smart urban tourism. Bac Ninh has several model industrial zones like VSIP, Yen Phong, and Thuan Thanh, so we are developing "industrial tourism" tours—a type gaining attention in the digital economy era. Concurrently, there are urban tourism models—cultural, ecological tourism, night tourism, light art, virtual maps, and cashless payments.
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| Phat Tich Pagoda located in Phat Tich, Tien Du district, Bac Ninh. (Source: Tuoi Tre) |
Third, products associated with rural spaces. Bac Ninh has 120 craft villages, including 62 traditional ones. We are promoting experiential tourism: visiting original Quan ho villages to learn folk singing, play folk games, and enjoy a countryside meal in an ancient house; or engaging in high-tech agriculture—both growing vegetables and relaxing, combined with light entertainment.
Fourth, "space-time" tourism. The province is experimenting with seasonal and special time-frame products such as Full Moon Night Festivals, night walking streets—night cuisine, festival season tourism, or agricultural harvest season. These activities will create new, non-repetitive exploration opportunities.
If Bac Ninh continues to leverage its heritage advantages while attracting investment in service infrastructure, technology application, and digital transformation, it can undoubtedly become a leading cultural and ecological tourism center in the Northern Delta region.
